"A misunderstanding?"
The moment those words left my mouth, I saw something dark flash across Fabian's face. His hand shot out and gripped my chin, fingers digging in so hard that pain shot through my jaw. His scent was sharp and angry, heavy with dominance. It pressed against my senses, demanding submission.
"What misunderstanding?" he snapped. His voice wasn't just loud. It carried that Alpha edge that made the air feel tight. "Two years ago, I was nothing. Broke. Weak. Now I'm Chief Editor, leading my own pack in this city. And suddenly you regret leaving? So you call it a misunderstanding?"
His grip tightened, forcing my face up so I had to look at him. His eyes burned with resentment.
"Vivian," he said coldly, "I'm not that naive male who would wait for you to choose money over me."
I stared at him, at the man who once swore I was his destined mate. All I felt was shock… and something breaking inside my chest.
I wanted to explain. I wanted to tell him why I had stepped back, why I had endured everything alone. But what was the point?
If he truly believed in our bond, he would never have disappeared without a word. He would never have decided, on his own, that I was the kind of woman who would betray her mate for status.
And even if he believed me now… what would change?
I belong to another pack.
I carry another Alpha's mark.
There is no going back.
I swallowed the tears that threatened to spill and forced myself to breathe evenly. Then I lifted my head and looked straight at him.
"Fabian," I said quietly, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. "You're right. Believe whatever you want about that year. But you're wrong about one thing. I don't want to be with you. Your title, your power, your position in this city… they mean nothing to me."
The moment I finished, pain flared along my chin again. His fingers dug in deeper, his temper rising like a beast straining against a leash.
Then suddenly, he let go and shoved me away.
I stumbled back, barely catching myself against the wall. When I looked up, the hatred in his eyes felt like blades cutting straight through my chest.
Let it hurt, I told myself.
It's better than getting pulled back into him.
"If there's nothing else," I said quickly, fighting to keep my voice from shaking, "I'll take my leave."
I turned and walked out of his office without looking back. I could feel his presence behind me like heat on my skin, but I didn't dare stop.
By the time I rushed out of the magazine building, the sky had opened. Rain poured down in sheets, thunder shaking the city. I realized too late that I had left my umbrella upstairs.
I couldn't go back.
Not while his scent still lingered in that office.
Coward.
I stood at the curb, trying to hail a cab. None stopped. The ride app refused to load. The storm only grew worse. Finally, I covered my head with my bag and ran toward the train station.
By the time I squeezed into the train, I was completely drenched. Cold water clung to my clothes and skin. The crowd pressed around me, strangers brushing against my shoulders, their scents overwhelming my senses. I just wanted to disappear.
When I got off at my stop, the rain was still falling hard. I stood under the station shelter, staring at the flooded streets.
Two years ago, on a night just like this, I lost everything.
The most precious thing in my life.
And soon after… I lost Fabian.
The memory wrapped around my heart like chains. My body felt numb, but inside, the pain crawled back to life. I hugged myself and slowly crouched down, curling into a small ball near the wall.
Cold.
So cold.
My teeth began to chatter. My instincts felt unstable, like something inside me was trying to rise and fight the weakness in my body.
Then I saw it.
A wheelchair.
And a pair of long legs beside it.
I lifted my head, stunned.
Finnick sat there under a black umbrella, Noah standing behind him. The rain blurred his features, but his presence was impossible to ignore. Even seated, his aura was calm and powerful. Controlled. Dangerous in a quiet way.
The moment our eyes met, something inside me settled.
"Why are you here?" he asked, his voice low. There was a sharp edge to it. "You're soaked."
Only then did I realize how dizzy I felt. I tried to stand, but my vision went dark.
The world tilted.
I would have hit the ground if strong arms hadn't caught me.
Through the haze, I felt Finnick's hold tighten around me. His body was warm. Solid. Protective. His scent wrapped around me, steadying the chaos in my senses.
Then his grip froze for a second.
I knew why.
The bruise on my chin.
Even without seeing his face clearly, I felt the sudden shift in him. The air around us grew heavier, colder. Dangerous.
"Let's go home," he said at last, his voice calm again, but too calm.
He pulled me into his arms and moved toward the black Bentley parked nearby. The wheelchair rolled slower under our combined weight.
"Mr. Norton," Noah said carefully, "let me help."
"There's no need."
Finnick adjusted me in his arms. And then—
He stood up.
Strong. Steady. As if the chair had never defined him at all.
My fading consciousness couldn't process it. Everything blurred into darkness.
When I woke again, the room was dark.
Hot.
Too hot.
My skin burned as if I were on fire. I shifted restlessly, moaning softly. Something cold touched my neck, my collarbone. I instinctively leaned into it, desperate for relief.
Then I heard it.
Heavy breathing.
A man's breath.
My mind snapped awake. My eyes forced themselves open, blurry but focused enough to see a figure above me.
I pushed weakly at his chest.
He didn't move.
He felt like a mountain.
"Ouch," I gasped, as my body reacted sharply to the sudden closeness, my senses overwhelmed by his scent and the fierce energy rolling off him.